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Emergency Contraception Rights

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Emergency contraception, or "the morning after pill," is legal in the United States. If you are 17 years old or older then you can simply ask the pharmacist to provide you with the pills to purchase. If you are under 17 years old, then you will need a prescription.
Despite the law allowing people access to emergency contraception, some pharmacists are denying people the right to purchase these pills because of their own moral or religious beliefs. A pharmacist's refusal to provide a person with this legal drug can permanently prevent the person from the benefits of emergency contraception since the pill has to be taken quickly after unprotected sex. Women in poor or rural communities are at a particular disadvantage if a pharmacist refuses access to emergency contraception, since the next closest pharmacy may be too far away to reach in time for the medication to be effective.
If you have been denied emergency contraception by a pharmacist, then you should consider filing a complaint with the state pharmacy board. The FDA has been clear in its approval of emergency contraception, and individual pharmacists do not have the right to impose their beliefs on their customers.

Disclaimer

The information on this page is meant to provide a general overview of the law. The laws in your state and/or city may deviate significantly from those described here. If you have specific questions related to your situation you should speak with a local attorney.